The promised rezoning of six blocks in the Far West Village was not certified at today’s City Planning Commission meeting, in spite of commitments by the Department to certify in April and then May. City Planning is now saying they will certify, or officially begin consideration of the promised rezoning of the Far West Village, in June at the earliest, though no commitment for that date has been made.

GVSHP and community groups have been calling upon the city, Community Board, and local elected officials to support our proposed rezoning of this area for over two years, ever since plans emerged for a 100+ ft. tall hotel at Perry and Washington Streets. That plan has since been scaled back, and while some published reports have claimed the hotel plan is dead, the architect and developer have both informed GVSHP that they intend to move ahead with the plan as is, and still have the building permits to do so. Additionally, a developer is seeking Landmarks approval for a project at Charles and Washington Streets under the current, more permissive zoning, and GVSHP has identified at least a dozen other potential development sites in the area. This means that every day that rezoning is delayed, the likelihood of one of these developments moving ahead under the old, more permissive zoning increases.

Rather than take any chances, GVSHP and community groups have been regularly pushing the city to move ahead with consideration of this rezoning, which we first proposed in April of 2008, as soon as possible. GVSHP will continue to push for this long-overdue action by the city. If you would like to write to urge that the city end delays in the rezoning, CLICK HERE.